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Inspired by the works of Arthur C. Clarke, J.G. Ballard and Philip K. Dick, Infinite Summer sees Michael Lovett’s NZCA Lines “marry sci-fi futurism to personal intimacies” to produce what must surely be one of the funkiest apocalyptic concept albums of all time. Indeed, also featuring former Ash guitarist Charlotte Hatherley and drummer Sarah Jones (Hot Chip, New Young Pony Club), the follow-up to 2012’s self-titled debut may center on […]

Named after a term used for trained assassins he heard in a documentary on espionage, Skilled Mechanics sees trip-hop trailblazer Tricky assemble his own killer team for the most collaborative studio effort of his lengthy career. Some of those on board are no stranger to the world of Adrian Thaws, including regular vocalist Francesca Belmonte who lends her sultry tones to the eerie synth-balladry of “We Begin,” drummer Luke Harris […]

As you’d expect from a founding member of studious classical-electro outfit Clean Bandit, British-Ugandan vocalist/rapper Love Ssega certainly isn’t short on brainpower. Born and raised in South London, the 24-year-old graduated from Cambridge University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, then made the brave decision to quit the aforementioned Grammy winners to finish his Ph.D. in laser sensing. Love Ssega (real name Ssegawa-Ssekintu Kiwanuka) is just as cultured as he […]

Judging by all the pre-release talk of shunning EDM, steering dance music back into a proper direction and making a piece of art, you’d expect Steve Angello’s second solo LP, Wild Youth, to be something of a game-changer. So it’s slightly baffling to hear that the Stockholm DJ has delivered the kind of unadventurous, generic and largely forgettable record he appears to be rallying against. Indeed, featuring guest appearances from […]

David Bowie, arguably one of the most influential figures in modern music for the past 40-plus years, died on Sunday, Jan. 10 after a battle with cancer. He was 69. While previous rumors of his death in years past were greatly exaggerated, the news has been confirmed by Bowie’s representatives and his son Duncan Jones (via Twitter). The following statement appears on Bowie’s official Facebook page: “David Bowie died peacefully […]

So after crowning Jamie xx’s “Loud Places” and Bob Moses’ Days Gone By as the greatest single and album of 2015 respectively, we now switch our attention to what we can expect to hear over the next twelve months in the world of dance/electronica. The first big album out of the blocks this year is Moth (Jan 22), the third album from alt-pop duo Chairlift, which judging by its first […]

Shooter Jennings “The Other Life” – Album Review

It’s gotta be tough to try finding your own persona outside the shadow of your famous last name, and Shooter Jennings has taken a long and winding road to find his amid a slew of experimental, fringe country albums over the years. But with his latest release The Other Life, Jennings appears to be coming full-circle back to his outlaw country roots.

Granted, you wouldn’t know that listening just to the opening track, “Flying Saucer Song”, a piano-heavy, ethereal number that doesn’t sound much like country at all, and is pure instrumental until the last 45 seconds. But keep listening. From southern-fried honky-tonk tunes like “The Low Road” and “The White Trash Song” to the mid-tempo “The Outsider” to ballads like the title track and “Wild and Lonesome” (a moving duet with Patty Griffin), this album is pure old-school outlaw, delivered in Shooter Jennings’ own signature style that’s just left of center.

It also appears that Jennings has his own opinion about what constitutes “outlaw”, and he’s not afraid to express it. (Admittedly, he ought to know.) On “Outlaw You,” he pulls no punches in his tirade against modern Nashville country polish and the new breed of bad boys: “Hey, pretty boy in the baseball hat / Couldn’t hit country with a baseball bat…You say you’re an outlaw with your perfect boots / That you got from your record label’s image group / Sing another man’s songs with a big drum loop.” Ouwtch. If the whole record were like that, I don’t think we could take him seriously, but Jennings wisely gets it out of his system and moves on.

All taken together, though, the overarching achievement on The Other Life is that Shooter Jennings comes across as a veteran country artist who has found himself, and perhaps more importantly, found his own niche apart from his father’s fame. Whatever your opinion of his occasional outspokenness, Jennings has proven with this album that he is an artist in his own right, an artist who deserves to be heard.

4 / 5 stars

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About the Author

Music blogger Rob Burkhardt has been a fan of country music since he was a child, cutting his teeth on the sounds of Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Reba McIntyre and George Jones. In the words of the now-legendary Barbara Mandrell song, he was "country when country wasn't cool." Nowadays, Rob is both intrigued and excited about the mainstream crossover appeal of modern country, as seen in the success of artists like Carrie Underwood, Rascal Flatts and Lady Antebellum. Even so, Rob's personal tastes in country music remain "old school," tied to the great legends of country.
When he's not blogging about country music, Rob Burkhardt holds a day job as a middle school teacher, and is an avid sports fan. He lives with his wife and two teenage girls in southern Ohio.